Anna Mittlestadt, the local clothing designer who founded womenswear line Anna Victoria Designs in 2012, had a similar customer in mind when she launched her new childrenswear line, Mitt & Maddie, this spring.
The new line is intended to appeal to the same sort of woman who appreciates the eye-catching prints and classic, easy-to-wear cuts of Anna Victoria pieces – and who wants to find clothing with similar quality and timeless appeal for her children.
A pair of boys’ shorts from Mitt & Maddie features a nautical print.“My customers are looking for good quality clothes that can be passed down from kid to kid,” Mittlestadt said. “They don’t want anything that in a few years would look outdated.”
When Mittlestadt’s sister was pregnant with her first child, she recalls going through bags of their own childhood clothing and remarking on what good quality it was. Her sister, who was having a boy, wasn’t able to find anything similar to their childhood garments for boys in stores. So, the idea for Mitt & Maddie was born. Mitt is her nephew’s name, short for Mittlestadt.
Mitt & Maddie features classic looks that are durable and comfortable enough for kids to play and run around in, she said. Like Anna Victoria, which is known for its graphic prints created in-house, the line features lots of prints, including florals and one with pineapples that’s been really popular, said Mittlestadt. Seersucker is also used throughout the Southern charm-filled collection, all designed in the Hixson space where she operates her business.
The Girls Preparatory School and Auburn University grad continues to release new designs under her Anna Victoria Designs label, with the latest collection featuring graphic florals on washable fabrics, a move away from the natural silk she typically used when the brand launched.
Currently, Mitt & Maddie is only available online at mittandmaddie.com, though Mittlestadt said she hopes for the line to be in stores by next spring. She also plans to do mommy-and-me pieces – slated to become a big trend next year, she said.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.